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The Great Depression: Causes and Effects

📑 5 slides 👁 29 views 📅 3/23/2026
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Introduction to the Great Depression

The Great Depression (1929-1939) was the worst economic downturn in US history

Introduction to the Great Depression
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Causes: Stock Market Crash

  • October 29, 1929: Black Tuesday - stocks lost $14 billion in value
  • Over-speculation and buying on margin led to instability
  • Banks collapsed as people rushed to withdraw savings
  • 9000 banks failed by 1933, wiping out life savings
Causes: Stock Market Crash
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Causes: Economic Weaknesses

  • Overproduction in factories led to surplus goods
  • Farmers struggled with debt and falling crop prices
  • Unequal wealth distribution: top 1% owned 40% of wealth
  • High tariffs reduced international trade
Causes: Economic Weaknesses
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Effects on Daily Life

  • Families lived in makeshift shantytowns called 'Hoovervilles'
  • Children left school to work; malnutrition became common
  • Dust storms destroyed farms, forcing migration west
  • Birth rates dropped as couples delayed starting families
Effects on Daily Life
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Government Response & Recovery

  • FDR's New Deal created jobs through programs like the WPA
  • Social Security Act (1935) provided safety nets
  • FDIC insured bank deposits to restore confidence
  • WWII production finally ended the Depression in 1941
Government Response & Recovery
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